Report: WTC Respiratory Suits Settlement Reached

After nearly six years of litigation, a new settlement has been
reached among parties in the thousands of cases brought by plaintiffs
who worked at Ground Zero, reports the New York Law
Journal, a sibling publication.

At a hearing this morning in federal court in Manhattan, attorneys for the various parties--plaintiffs, the City of New York, and contractors that worked at the site--are set to appear before U.S. district court judge Alvin Hellerstein, who is overseeing the wrongful death,
property damage, and personal injury suits arising from the 9/11 attacks.

The settlement reached in early March called for $657 million
to be paid to the plaintiffs from the World Trade Center Captive Insurance Co.,
which was funded by a $1 billion grant from FEMA to enable the city and
contractors to purchase insurance to cover WTC claims, according to the NYLJ.

James Tyrrell, Jr., national chair of the toxic tort and
product liability practice at Patton Boggs, is representing New York City in
the litigation. Tyrrell is managing partner of the firm's New
York/New Jersey offices. Patton Boggs has reaped nearly $120 million in fees from representing the city in the case, which tested its client's claims of immunity.